New Machine Will Fire Out Hockey Pucks at 100 MPH To Test Gear

A new machine being developed by researchers at Idaho State University will spit out hockey pucks at 100 miles per hour to test protective gear.

The machine, being constructed by the ISU Department of Robotics and Communications Systems Engineering Technology as part of a $111,000 entrepreneurial grant from the Idahoan government, will replicate and measure the impact of a fast-moving hockey puck.

It’s being developed in partnership with Boise-based startup Fi-Ber Sports, whose line of gear, HOPlite Skate Armor, uses a patented technology that helps protect skaters from injury.

Sensors on the machine will be able to evaluate how the HOPlite Skate Armor system functions and how well it protects players. That data can be compared against rival products, helping to determine a standard for the protective gear used by amateur and pro hockey players.

“We are going to be measuring these forces on the hockey skate with and without the new HOPlite Skate Armor gear as well as complete comparative testing on other similar products in the market,” Shane Slack, director of the ISU robotics department, said in a statement.

The machine is expected to begin firing pucks by mid-September. It’ll run tests through the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 2018.

Megan Ronk, director of the Idaho Commerce whose grant is meant to tie together state universities with technology startups, said this mash-up signals an “exciting opportunity in modern medical innovation.”

“I am excited for the outcome of this project and the vast impact it can have in the future of sports medicine,” she said.

Sharing

Tags

About Jen Booton

Jen is a senior writer at SportTechie covering the many ways technology is disrupting sports. On any given day she may cover a wide variety of stories ranging from the newest virtual reality training tools for the NFL, the rise of eSports leagues and the infiltration of drones in extreme sports. Prior to joining SportTechie, Jen was a technology reporter at MarketWatch, where she covered major Silicon Valley companies, such as Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook.
Jen is a licensed skydiver who jumps out of planes, helicopters and hot air balloons for fun in her spare time. She’s a former NCAA cross country athlete and currently lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.
View all posts by Jen Booton →